Film-developing tank



May 13, 1924.

A. L. NORDOFF FILM DEVELOPING TANK Filed Nov. 20. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 L. A/ardafzi ATTORNEY WITNESS:

May 13, 1924. 1,493,560

A. NORDOFF FILM DEVELOPING TANK Filed Nov. 20 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WITNESS: ATTORNEY May 13, 1924. 1,493,560

' A. L. NORDOFF FILM DEVELOPING TANK Filed Nov. 20. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 L- IHHHHHIEB 53 .A/0f0077i WITNESS: ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1924.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR L. NORDOFF, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FILM-DEVELOPING TANK.

Application filed November 20, 1922. Serial No. 602,134.

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. Nonoorr,

- a citizen of the United States. residing at Another object is the provision of a device of this character which embodies a corrugated guide apron designed to be wound with the film upon a reel, the apron acting to space apart the successive convolutions of the film so that all portions of the latter will be subjected to the action of whatever developing solution is employed.

A further object is the provision of a device of this character including a solution cup within which is adapted to be immersed a. cage-like device which carries the spindle and reel associated with the apron and which also carries the spool which has the exposed film thereon.

Yet another object is the provision of a device of this character in which the cage member is adjustable so that the device will be adapted to handle films of different sizes naturally wound upon spools of different lengths.

An additional object is the provision of a developing apparatus which will be com paratively simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy and convenient to operate, ethcient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

WVith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the device disposed within the solution cup or tank.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the tank showing the remainder of the device in side elevation. A

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the cage structure.

Figure 4. is a vertical section therethrough.

Figure 5 is a vertical section looking in the opposite direction.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view of the reel.

Figure 7 is a detail longitudinal section through the spindle.

Figure 8 is an elevation of the apron and Figure 9 is a cross section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown my device as consisting of a cage 10 which is constructed preferably of sheet metal and which includes top and bottom members'11 and 12, respectively, having formed thereon back plate portions 13 which are slidably adjustably connected whereby the distance between the top and bottom 11 and 12 may be regulated to suit the size of film to be developed. At spaced points I provide brace rods 14 which strengthen the cage and give it suflicient rigidity. The top plate 11 is provided with a suitable handle 15 by means of which the cage carrying the parts to be described may be conveniently lifted about. The top and bottom members 11 and 12 are cut, as shown at 16, to define tongues 17 which act as springs and which have their free ends 18 out-turned, as shown. These tongues carry inwardly extending pins 19, for a purpose to be described. The top and bottom members 11 and 12 are also formed with alined holes 20 and 21 likewise for a purpose to be described.

The numeral 22 designates broadly the reel which includes a supporting tube 23 carrying heads or disks 24 which are spaced slightly fromthe ends, the projecting portions 25 of the ends being j ournaled between the alined holes 20. Extending alongside the tube 23 is a rod 26 held by a pair of spaced collars 27 which are secured upon the tube 23 and which are spaced from the disks 24. It is preferable that the tube 23 and the rod 26 be of telescopic construction so that the reel may be elongated or shortened, as may be required, to fit within'the cage Whenever the latter is adjusted for handling films of difi'erent widths.

Likewise mounted within the cage is a telescopic spindle 28 carrying end disks 29 and partition disks 3O spaced therefrom. Extending alongside of this spindle is a telescopic rod 31 held by collars 32 secured to the spindle. The ends of the spindle I provide anxapron which consists of two strips 33 of corrugated flexible material connected at their ends by rods 34 terminating in hooks 35. One set of hooks is designed to be engaged upon the rod 26 between the collars 27 and disks 24, and the other set of hooks is designed to be engaged upon the rod 31 between the disks 29 and partition disks 30. It isintended that the apron strips 33 be wound onto the reel 22 from the spindle 28 on which they are initially wrapped. It is intended that the resilient nature of the cage will cause the top and.

bottom plates thereof to 'bear against the end disks of the reel and spindle with suificient friction to prevent too free rotation V of either.

In connection with the above described cage structure I employ a solution tank or cup 36 which is preferably cylindrical and of any desired height necessary to receive the cage. The topiof this tank is adapted to be closed by a cover 37 which may be equipped either with a quick acting thread or a bayonet slot connection for holding it locked in closed position. In the present instance the tank is shown as formed with outwardly pressed ribs 38 cooperating with similar ribs 39 on the cover for avoiding a screwing action which will compress a gasket 40 carried by the cover against the upper edge of the tank. The cover is furthermore provided with a depending thimble 41 designed to receive a winding key 12 which is insertable into a socket 43 in one end of the reel tube 23.

In the use of the device the spool A on which is wrapped the film to be developed is placed within ,the cage with the sockets in its ends engaged upon the pins 19.' The free end of the paper protecting the film is then threaded between the rod 26 and tube 23 and bent back, and the reel is then turned to wrap at least once around the tube so as to prevent subsequent slipping. The apron strips 33 are hooked onto the rods 26' and 31 andthe cage is then placed within the tank 36. The cover 37 is placed in position and the thimble 41 thereof will register with one end of the reel tube 23. It should, of course, be mentioned that the tank must first be filled to quite an appreciable depth with whatever developing solution is preferred. The handle 15 on the cage facilitates placing it in the tank. After the cage is disposed within the tank and the cover is in position, the operator removes the plug or cap 44 which normally closes the thimble 41 and inserts the winding key 42 into one end of the reel tube 23. The operator then turns this key to wind the paper and the film off from the spool A onto the reel 22. As this'is done the apron strips engage the film and space apart the'successive convolutions so as to permit the developing solution to act upon the entire area of the film. Immersion is continued or maintained the necessary length of time to effect development, the time varying of course with the nature of the solution. After development is completed, the operator removes the winding key and cover 37, lifts out the cage, removes the spool A, unhooks one end of the apron strips 33 and then pulls the apron and the developed film oil from the reel subsequently to which the film may be washed in any suitable tray or the like. Such washing may be done in a subdued light and after it is completed the film is submitted to the action of'whatever fixing solution is employed. The parts are then reassembled ready for the development of the next roll of film.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have-thus provided a simply constructed and easily operated mechanical device for developing rolls of film in an expeditious manner and with very little danger of loss or improper treatment. Owing to the telescopic construction of the cage and also the reel and spindle, it isobvious that the device may be used for handling films of different widths.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A film developing apparatus comprising a solution containing tank, a cage in sertable within the tank, a cover for closing the tank to exclude light, means with in the cage for supporting a reel of exposed film, a reel within the cage provided withwinding means extending exteriorly of the cover, means on said reel for gripping the free end of the protective paper about the exposed film, flexible spacing members movably mounted within the cage and adapted to be wound upon the reel with the film to space-the convolutions of the latter apart, a spindle journaled within the cage and upon which the spacing members are initially wound, said spacing members consisting of corrugated strips connected at their ends and provided with hooks, and means on the spindle and reel detachably engaged by said hooks.

2. A film developing apparatus comp-rising a tank provided with a removable cover, a cage insertable Within the tank, means within the cage for journally supporting a roll of exposed film. a reel journaled wit iin the cage and provided with winding means extending through the cover; said reel ineluding a rod about which may be engaged the free end of the paper protecting the roll of exposed film, and a corrugated apron detachably engaged upon said rod and adapted to he wound upon the reel with the film.

3. A film developing apparatus comprising a tank provided with a removable cover, a cage insertable within the tank, means within the cage for journally supporting a 

